If the MPAA's moves are such a recipe for failure, why does it seem like the movie industry is making more money than ever?
I mean, we keep hearing that the movie biz is booming in spite of all the MPAA's lies that piracy is killing their business. Piracy clearly isn't killing their business, but neither are any of the MPAA's anti-consumer business practices. So are they just succeeding in spite of themselves?
According to IMDB, the last two Transformers movies grossed a combined $721M at the box office. That's *before* DVD sales, PPV and rentals, which is the other 75% of movie revenue.
It's going to be a VERY long time before Hollywood's business model implodes. Because America likes 'em big and stupid, and they'll put up with the BS to get what Hollywood spoon-feeds them.
Wait, is this the same Emily Richards that Michael Robertson personally promoted as a singer on MP3.com ten years ago? She was a real favorite of his, if I recall.
If he turned on her, I'm amazed EMI even had to pay her a dime to get her to change her testimony. Hell hath no fury, man...
Actually, I think I made a about $900 off MP3.com. Built myself a very nice little PC with that cash, too.
I have no sympathy for Mr. Robertson, either. He could have done something really great with MP3.com, but instead, he saw zero value in the indie music catalog he amassed and decided to make himself a target for the RIAA, just to be a glory hound. He's the bastard that brought down Camelot, IMHO, and he needs to go.
Here's the one arena where cable and satellite TV still win big -- live sports. There are a TON of sports fans out there who don't want and/or can't afford to go to a sports bar for every single game, and they want their ESPN.
Yes, the combination of Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, video podcasts and OTA DTV would be enough for most people, but not for me. I'm a huge NFL fan. I watch a lot of college basketball, especially here in the ACC. I follow the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League, and I think I might like to watch those Real Madrid v. Barcelona battles this year, too, or the occasional Serie A or CONCACAF battle. Where's the Netflix-like alternative for me and all those others like me?
Yes, the baseball fans can get live games on their Roku player. Can college football fans get that? What about NBA and NHL fans? ESPN 360 doesn't work with my ISP, and the ISP it *does* work with here can't give me reliable service.
Yes, tons of people who aren't sports fans are cutting cable and dumping the dish. Good for them. This ignores the fact that there's still a huge market here that remains untapped. So what's the solution for us sports fans?
"Make Congress feel the pain?" Not enough. The only way to change anything is to STOP BUYING WHAT THE RIAA AND MPAA ARE SELLING YOU. Support independent artists who make music, film and video that interest you instead.
After all, if we stop giving money to the MPAA, they stop being able to pay lawyers, and these things start changing. Right?
Do you think Twitter would be as big as it is right now if it weren't for hundreds of software developers "riding their coat tails" to make Twitter more useful? Would the iPhone be as useful with no one but Apple designing the apps to make it so?
Here in the 21st century, you have to let 3rd-party developers into your ecosystem to make your product more useful to the people. As long as the RIAA continues to lock these developers out by suing them and squeezing every last dime out of them, they will lose in the eyes of the public. Period.
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The irony of all this (as Dave)
If the MPAA's moves are such a recipe for failure, why does it seem like the movie industry is making more money than ever?
I mean, we keep hearing that the movie biz is booming in spite of all the MPAA's lies that piracy is killing their business. Piracy clearly isn't killing their business, but neither are any of the MPAA's anti-consumer business practices. So are they just succeeding in spite of themselves?
Keep dreaming (as Dave)
According to IMDB, the last two Transformers movies grossed a combined $721M at the box office. That's *before* DVD sales, PPV and rentals, which is the other 75% of movie revenue.
It's going to be a VERY long time before Hollywood's business model implodes. Because America likes 'em big and stupid, and they'll put up with the BS to get what Hollywood spoon-feeds them.
Emily Richards? (as Dave)
Wait, is this the same Emily Richards that Michael Robertson personally promoted as a singer on MP3.com ten years ago? She was a real favorite of his, if I recall.
If he turned on her, I'm amazed EMI even had to pay her a dime to get her to change her testimony. Hell hath no fury, man...
Re: I hope they DO bankrupt Michael Robertson (as Dave)
Actually, I think I made a about $900 off MP3.com. Built myself a very nice little PC with that cash, too.
I have no sympathy for Mr. Robertson, either. He could have done something really great with MP3.com, but instead, he saw zero value in the indie music catalog he amassed and decided to make himself a target for the RIAA, just to be a glory hound. He's the bastard that brought down Camelot, IMHO, and he needs to go.
That's great. What if you're a sports fan? (as Dave)
Here's the one arena where cable and satellite TV still win big -- live sports. There are a TON of sports fans out there who don't want and/or can't afford to go to a sports bar for every single game, and they want their ESPN.
Yes, the combination of Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, video podcasts and OTA DTV would be enough for most people, but not for me. I'm a huge NFL fan. I watch a lot of college basketball, especially here in the ACC. I follow the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League, and I think I might like to watch those Real Madrid v. Barcelona battles this year, too, or the occasional Serie A or CONCACAF battle. Where's the Netflix-like alternative for me and all those others like me?
Yes, the baseball fans can get live games on their Roku player. Can college football fans get that? What about NBA and NHL fans? ESPN 360 doesn't work with my ISP, and the ISP it *does* work with here can't give me reliable service.
Yes, tons of people who aren't sports fans are cutting cable and dumping the dish. Good for them. This ignores the fact that there's still a huge market here that remains untapped. So what's the solution for us sports fans?
Legaltorrents.com? (as Dave)
Are they using Legaltorrents.com for distribution as well? That site seems a lot harder to take down.
Plus, they don't need a distributor to get their music into online stores if they use TuneCore. That's available to them, too, right?
Aussie Rules is better... (as Dave)
...when it comes to creating a business model that serves overseas viewers.
http://www.aussiesport.tv/
Pitch Invasion (as Dave)
Hey, Mike, Tom Dunmore at Pitch Invasion totally beat you to this commentary. ;^)
http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/12/the-premier-league-and-internet-streams/
Not enough. (as Dave)
"Make Congress feel the pain?" Not enough. The only way to change anything is to STOP BUYING WHAT THE RIAA AND MPAA ARE SELLING YOU. Support independent artists who make music, film and video that interest you instead.
After all, if we stop giving money to the MPAA, they stop being able to pay lawyers, and these things start changing. Right?
Raymond Burr smokes a pipe and says... (as Dave)
"Yes, I see."
I believe Bill Cosby said it best when he said... (as Dave)
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life! No wonder you get D's in everything!"
Bullsh*t (as Dave)
Do you think Twitter would be as big as it is right now if it weren't for hundreds of software developers "riding their coat tails" to make Twitter more useful? Would the iPhone be as useful with no one but Apple designing the apps to make it so?
Here in the 21st century, you have to let 3rd-party developers into your ecosystem to make your product more useful to the people. As long as the RIAA continues to lock these developers out by suing them and squeezing every last dime out of them, they will lose in the eyes of the public. Period.